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Ray Whelan, the chief executive of a hospitality firm arrested in connection with an investigation into VIP ticket scalping at the World Cup, was released on Tuesday after spending the night in custody.

But his company, MATCH Services, remains at the centre of two investigations that once again raise questions about the business and commercial practices of FIFA, soccer's governing body and an organization long tarnished by allegations of corruption and a lack of transparency.

In addition to the ongoing police probe over a scheme to illegally resell tickets, Brazil's antitrust authorities for the past year have been investigating whether MATCH, appointed by FIFA to provide ticketing, accommodation and event information technology, unfairly sold hotel bookings at inflated prices.

While the ticketing investigation has gained steam over the past week, with the arrest of 11 suspected scalpers in addition to Whelan, Brazil's antitrust authority said it will continue analyzing MATCH hotel packages at least through the end of the tournament, which ends Sunday.

Cade, as the antitrust authority is known, said on Tuesday that the probe seeks to determine whether the prices charged by MATCH for some of its hotel packages, and exclusivity clauses that enabled the company to reserve large batches of rooms, had any adverse effect on overall pricing for World Cup lodging.

WORSE THAN 1950

For many Brazilians, Tuesday's humiliating 7-1 loss to Germany accomplished the unthinkable - a disaster even worse than the last time the country hosted the World Cup, in 1950.

Back then, it was a 2-1 loss to tiny Uruguay in the final, a massive upset that still brings tears to the eyes of older Brazilians.

This defeat may have been even more scarring, some fans said, because the final result was not even close. Brazil's team was torn to shreds.

Anger and disappointment was so intense that it threatened to darken the national mood for some time to come, with possible consequences for President Dilma Rousseff as she seeks a second term in October.

"This is worse than 1950. It's one thing to lose a game where you suffered and fought hard, and it's another to be completely humiliated," said Fernando Hazzan, 28, in Sao Paulo.

"This game is going down in history, too," he said.

LUCKY LOUIS

For Dutch coach Louis van Gaal, Wednesday's semi-final with Argentina is too close to call and Lady Luck will likely play her part.

The Netherlands, one win away from their second successive World Cup final, take on the South Americans in Sao Paulo in the second semi-final after hosts Brazil meet Germany in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday.

"I don't think there is a favourite," Van Gaal told reporters on Tuesday at Corinthians arena.

"I think in the semi-finals the countries are the same level. The results have been like that in the quarter-finals and the round of 16."

The Netherlands had few problems progressing from Group B, thumping champions Spain 5-1, edging Australia 3-2 and beating Chile 2-0.

Since then, however, their passage to the last four has been less serene. They came from a goal down to beat Mexico with a last-ditch penalty from substitute Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and only overcoming Costa Rica 4-3 in a penalty shootout.

"I would say it's going to be a 50-50 match and we have to be a bit lucky. The coin has to face your way, as we say in Dutch," added Van Gaal, speaking through a translator.

Asked about the importance of Lionel Messi to Argentina's chances, Van Gaal said the match was about the opposing team rather than one individual.

KRUL WON’T START

Substitute goalkeeper Tim Krul's penalty shootout heroics for the Netherlands against Costa Rica in the quarter-final have not convinced coach Louis van Gaal to promote him to the starting lineup for Wednesday's World Cup semi-final against Argentina.

Krul was brought on to replace regular keeper Jasper Cillessen just as extra time was ending with the scores locked at 0-0. He saved two spot-kicks in the ensuing shootout and the Netherlands edged past Costa Rica 4-3.

"That didn't occur to me," Van Gaal told reporters on Tuesday, when asked whether he had thought about starting Krul against Argentina.

"This is something I excluded from the very beginning, because I believe Jasper Cillessen is doing a wonderful job.

"Stopping a penalty, that is what the other two are better at, so I selected Krul."

The Netherlands' other reserve keeper is Michel Vorm.

The unorthodox switch has been one of the main talking points of the latter rounds of the World Cup, particularly because it succeeded so spectacularly.

Cillessen had been kept in the dark about Van Gaal's plan, and initially looked upset when he was substituted.

Van Gaal was not asked at the news conference whether he would choose Krul again should the semi-final go to penalties.

VAN PERSIE ILL

Netherlands, who meet Argentina in the second semi-final on Wednesday, have concerns over striker Robin van Persie, who is suffering from stomach problems ahead of the game in Sao Paulo.

Van Persie has been training separately from the squad and Dutch coach Louis van Gaal said he would not be able to make a decision on his fitness until the day of the game.

"I don't know," Van Gaal said when asked if his key striker would play. "Tomorrow I'll have to take all these decisions but I can't do that today."